So I’ve been wanting to do a post about this for a while now, so without further ado, let’s begin.

When developing magic for your fantasy story, what’s something that sets it apart from others in media? Are there spells and incantations? Do the wizards use wands, staffs, or other weapons? What effects does the magic have on normal people? You might ask, “Why should we go so in depth into magic? It’s a fantasy, the rules don’t have to make sense.” Sure, some books don’t need a meticulously crafted magic system, especially if it’s a book for younger readers.

The Harry Potter series, for instance, is a book using what many of us refer to as a “soft magic system”. This basically means that the rules don’t always have to be consistent nor make sense. It amps up the fantasy aspect to where you don’t really think about it too much. Wizards and witches get wands, they say the incantation, and the spell happens. It’s quick, easy, and simplified. For many, this is enough and the book should focus more on the characters rather than the magic. I have a different mindset.

The idea of “hard” and “soft” magic comes from one of the most influential discussions by Brandon Sanderson. Though there are three Laws he speaks of, the one that caught my fancy was his Second Law.

Limitations > Power

“The limitations of a magic system are more interesting than its capabilities. What the magic can’t do is more interesting than what it can.” (Source from coppermind.net)

Before I learned of the term “hard magic system”, I was fascinated with games and media which involved costs. In most Star Wars games, the Force is not infinite and you must use your powers wisely before they run out then slowly recharge. In Dungeons & Dragons, low-level wizards or sorcerers only have a set number of spell slots to use per day. These limitations result in more creative uses of power, can show character struggle when using them, and have some kind of draining cost. I included a similar style of limitations when developing The Maven Knight, leading to the idea of magic gems being used through various conduits.

So what costs should magic have? Perhaps the person has to have a full stomach before he or she can use it. Maybe they have to bond with a spirit or an entity to have abilities at all. They can only use magic through an item and have to say the incantation just right for it to work. I’m a big fan of magical items, like placing a magic stone into a gauntlet to fully tap its powers. (I’m looking at you Infinity War).

So, if you’re trying to develop magic for a fantasy novel, you should first consider if limitations are important or not. Does your magic play by the rules, or does it want to be free?

“Virtue of Valor, all Knights must ensure the protection others even if it means laying down one’s life. Others are above self.” (The Maven Order Law, Tenth Rune). by Matthew Romeo

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